The release of police officers kidnapped by the ELN was confirmed last Sunday, January 18, by the Ombudsman’s Office, after five uniformed officers regained their freedom after spending 13 days in captivity in the Catatumbo region, Norte de Santander.

The police officers had been illegally detained since January 6, when they were traveling in a public service bus on the road that connects Cúcuta with Tibú, in the sector known as La Llana.

According to the entity, the release of police officers was achieved thanks to a humanitarian mission made up of the Ombudsman’s Office, the Catholic Church and the United Nations Verification Mission, which took steps to guarantee a safe return of the uniformed men to freedom.

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The released police officers were identified as Daniel de Jesús, Ramón Alberto, Edwin Fabián Manosalva, José Ricardo and Carlos Eduardo. According to the official report, all are in good health, despite having been deprived of liberty for almost two weeks.

The Ombudsman, Iris Marín, described the news as a “relief” for both those in uniform and their families. However, he reiterated the urgent call to illegal armed groups to immediately and unconditionally release all people who are still kidnapped in different regions of the country.

The release occurs in the midst of a serious humanitarian crisis in Catatumbo, an area that completes nearly a year of intense clashes between the ELN and armed dissidents, leaving more than 100,000 people displaced and a civilian population trapped in the middle of the conflict.

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